Pattern Notes:

Granny square meets lovie! This cute little lion is a quick and easy project for the littles in your life.

Materials:

• 1 ball of Paintbox Simply DK in Buttercup Yellow (Colour A) and Soft Fudge (Colour B)
• 3mm (UK 11 – US C2/D3) crochet hook
• 4mm (UK 8 – US G6) crochet hook
• Washable toy filling

Abbreviations:

beg = beginning;

ch = chain;

dc (sc) = double crochet (single crochet);

dc2tog (sc2tog) = (insert hook as indicated, yoh and draw loop through) twice, yoh and draw through all 3 loops on hook;

dc3tog (sc3tog) = (insert hook as indicated, yoh and draw loop through) 3 times, yoh and draw through all 4 loops on hook;

in = inches; mm = millimetre;

rep = repeat;

rs = right side;

sp(s) = space(s);

ss = slip stitch;

st(s) = stitch(es);dc = double crochet;

yoh = yarn over hook.

Pattern:

MAIN SECTION

Make 4 ch using 4mm (UK 8 – US G6) crochet hook and A, and join with a ss to form a ring.

round 1 (rs): 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ring, (2 ch, 3 dc into ring) 3 times, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 2: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *1 ch, miss 3 dc, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * twice more, 1 ch, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 3: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 d) into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 4: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) twice, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 s) into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 5: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 3 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 6: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 4 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 7: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 5 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 8: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 6 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 9: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 7 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc)**, (3 dc), 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 10: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 8 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 tr (dc), 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 11: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 9 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

Break off A and join in B.

round 12: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 10 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 13: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 11 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

Break off B and join in A.

round 14: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 12 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc)**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of 3 ch at beg of round.

round 15: 3 ch (counts as first st), 2 dc into ch sp partly formed by sc at end of previous round, *(1 ch, miss 3 dc, 3 dc into next ch sp) 13 times, 1 ch, miss 3 dc**, (3 dc, 2 ch and 3 dc) into next ch sp, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 3 dc into same ch sp as used at beg of round, 2 ch, ss to top of 3 ch at beg of round. round 16: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 1 sc into each of next 2 dc *(1 sc into next ch sp, 1 sc into each of next 3 dc) 14 times, 3 sc into next ch sp**, 1 sc into each of next 3 dc, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, ss to first sc. Fasten off.

HEAD

Make 2 ch using 3mm (UK 11 – US C2/D3) crochet hook and A.

round 1 (rs): 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook, ss to first sc, turn. 6 sts. round 2: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 2 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 2 sc into each of next 5 sc, ss to first sc, turn. 12 sts.

round 3: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into next sc, 2 sc into next sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 18 sts.

round 4: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 sc into each st to end, ss to first sc, turn.

round 5 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into each of next 2 sc, 2 sc into next sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 24 sts. round 6: as round 4.

round 7: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into each of next 3 sc, 2 sc into next sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 30 sts. rounds 8 to 10: as round 4.

round 11: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into each of next 3 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 24 sts. round 12: as round 4.

round 13: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into each of next 2 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 18 sts. round 14: as round 4.

round 15: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (1 sc into next sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc) 6 times, ss to first sc, turn. 12 sts. round 16: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), (sc2tog) over next 2 sts) 6 times, ss to first st. 6 sts.

Fasten off, leaving a fairly long end.

EARS (MAKE 2)

Make 2 ch using 3mm (UK 11 – US C2/D3) crochet hook and A.

round 1 (rs): 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook, ss to first sc, turn. 4 sts. round 2: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 2 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 2 sc into each of next 3 sc, ss to first sc, turn. 8 sts.

round 3: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 2 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 1 sc into each of next 2 sc, 2 sc into each of next 2 sc, 1 sc into each of next 2 sc, 2 sc into last sc, ss to first sc, turn. 12 sts.

round 4: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 1 sc into each of next 11 sts, ss to first sc, turn.

round 5: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 sc into st at base of 1 ch, (sc2tog) over next 2 sc) twice, 1 sc into each of next 2 sc, ((sc2tog) over next 2 sc) twice, 1 sc into last sc, ss to first st, turn. 8 sts.

Fasten off, leaving a fairly long end.

ARMS (MAKE 2)

Make 2 ch using 3mm (UK 11 – US C2/D3) crochet hook and A.

round 1 (rs): 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook, ss to first sc, turn. 6 sts. round 2: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 2 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 2 sc into each of next 5 sc, ss to first sc, turn. 12 sts.

round 3: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 sc into st at base of 1 ch, 1 sc into each of next 11 sts, ss to first sc, turn. Rep last round 6 times more. Fasten off, leaving a fairly long end.

FINISHING UP

Press Main Section only very carefully.

Insert toy filling into Head so that Head is firmly filled but still fairly soft. Beg and end of rounds is centre back of Head, and last round is neck edge round.

Fold Ears flat – final round is edge that will be attached to Head. Sew Ears to Head as in photograph.

Using oddment of B and photograph as a guide, embroider satin stitch eyes onto Head, then embroider satin stitch nose and a straight stitch mouth.

Insert toy filling into Arms so that Arms are firmly filled but still fairly soft. Fold Arm flat at top (last round) and then neatly sew Arms to neck edge of Head, using photograph as a guide.

Sew completed Head, Ears and Arms onto centre of Main Section as in photograph.

MANE:

The mane is worked as a single sc cord attached to the head every 15 sts with a ss.

This pattern can be downloaded from my Ravelry store right here!

With 3mm (UK 11 – US C2/D3) crochet hook and B, attach yarn with a ss to the base of the head where the arm and neck meet,

*ch 15, attach w ss to st above*, repeat along the side of the head, behind the arms and ears, and down the other side. The ch will naturally curl up around itself.

Bind off and weave in ends.

Enjoy!